Jimi: Sounds Like a Rainbow: A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix

Golio, Gary, Steptoe, Javaka, Jimi: Sounds like a Rainbow: A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix, Clarion Books, 2010, 32 pgs.

Summary: This is an illustrated biography of Jimi Hendrix when he was a young boy. Jimi grew up in Seattle, Washington and first was a painter. He loved to paint and also enjoyed making different sounds with what he had. He found that sounds carried colors and dreamed of having a guitar of his own so that he could make colors blend together. He got his first guitar from his landlady’s son and fell in love with the different sounds and noises he could make. He would get together with his friends and make different types of music inspired by the blues music his father listened to. One day, while playing with a live band, Jimi felt that his music was getting lost. So his father purchased him a very cheap electric guitar and Jimi really began to make music! Sadly Jimi Hendrix died at the very young age of 27 from a combination of prescription drugs and alcohol. The end of this book includes resources for teaching middle schools about the dangers of drinking alcohol.

Evaluation: I found this to be a very engaging and informative book. The illustrations are unique and have a very blues feel to them. I would imagine that this is what blues and art would look like together. I liked that there was a wrap up of information at the end which allowed me to get the whole picture of the life of Jimi Hendrix.

Annotation: His paintbrush was a guitar and his paints were sounds.

Significance of Book: I found this book to be significant because of the resources in the back for alcoholism and the use of basically captioned pictures to tell a story.

Genre/subject: biography, music

Awards:

National:

• Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Books: 2011

Why I selected the book: I was intrigued by the telling of a biography in a picture book format. Also the cover is really attractive.

Price: $16.99

Frog and Toad Together

Lobel, Arnold, Frog and Toad Together, HarperCollins,1972, 64 pgs.

Summary: This early chapter book is the tale of Toad and Frog and all of the crazy adventures they go on. We begin by following Toad as he creates a list of things to do and then becomes confused when he loses his list. All the while Frog is by his side trying to help him find the list. We move on to learn about how Frog has planted a lovely garden and Toad would like the same. Toad tries a number of different things to try and get his seeds to go, but nothing seems to be working because he believes the seeds are frightened. Finally Toad falls asleep and while he is sleeping the seeds sprout into a lovely garden. The next two chapters are about will power and being brave and finally we end with Toad having a dream that Frog disappeared. The whole book is full of illustrations of a personified toad and frog. Some of the pictures are full of detail while others are just snapshots of what is happening. What adventures will Frog and Toad get into next!

Evaluation: I found this an enjoyable book to read and a clear classic. The use of animals to tell stories is common in children’s literature and made very believable with the help of illustrations. Dressing Toad and Frog made them appear very human like even though they are clearly a frog and a toad. I feared that this would be a very dated story because of the age of the publication, but I found that it had a very classic appeal.

Annotation: Frog and Toad are best of friends and on an adventure. What will they get into next!

Significance of Book: I think this was a significant story because it tried to teach lessons. Each chapter seemed to have a value that was the point behind what was happening. Even with these lessons, it was still fun to read.

Genre/subject: fiction, friendship

Awards:

National:

• ALA Notable Children's Books: 1973
• Newbery Honor Books: 1973

Why I selected the book: I thought it was important to read an “easy reader” book and have found there to be a large number of books by Arnold Lobel in my library.

Price: $17.89

Interrupting Chicken

Stein, David Ezra, Interrupting Chicken, Candlewick Press, 2010, 40 pgs.

Summary: Once upon a time there was a little red chicken who loved to have stories read to her at bedtime by her Papa. The only problem is little red chicken didn’t like how the stories were so she would interrupt with her own version of the tale. As Papa chicken reads each of the classic tales of Hansel and Gretel and Little Red Riding Hood, he gets interrupted with little red chicken’s version of how it really happened. Little red chicken isn’t tired at all even after Papa chicken read all the stories in the story book. Finally out of frustration and exhaustion Papa chicken suggests that little red chicken read him a story. Eagerly little red chicken begins the best story yet, but will Papa chicken interrupt the little red chicken?

Evaluation: I found this book to be a great illustrated view of how children see story time. I found this book to truly be for kids and I can see a lot of kids really enjoying it. As an adult, I was annoyed with the constant interruptions, which was the point of it the whole book. Fairy tale retelling can be tricky, but I think that Stein did a good job of taking classic stories and adding a very realistic twist for young readers to enjoy.

Annotation: What if you could rewrite the fairy tales? How would you have it end?

Significance of Book: I think this book is significant because it really displays how children listen to stories. This is this false notion that children sit quietly and listen, when really they are very active and engaged. This story shows that very well.

Genre/subject: fiction, storytelling, humorous

Awards:

National:

· ALA Notable Children's Books: 2011

· Caldecott Honor: 2011

State:

· Arizona: Grand Canyon Reader Award Nominees: 2012

· Colorado: Children's Book Award Nominees: 2012

· Georgia: Picture Storybook Nominees: 2012

· Illinois: Monarch Award Nominees: 2012

· Kentucky: Bluegrass Award Nominees: 2012

· Missouri: Building Block Picture Book Award Nominees: 2011

· New Hampshire: Ladybug Award Nominees: 2011

Why I selected the book: I chose this book because I enjoy “retellings” of fairy tales.

Price: $16.99

Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book

Morales, Yuyi, Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book, Chronicle Books, 2003, 30 pgs.

Summary: It is the day of Grandma Beetle’s and she has much to do. Death has a different idea when he comes knocking early in the morning. Grandma Beetle is determined to have her birthday party though so she insists she will go with Death right after she sweeps uno (1) house. Death agrees, thinking he has a little extra time. He is in for a big surprise when Grandma Beetle continues on counting off the different tasks she must do before she can go with Death. Death begins to get very impatient and angry until he realizes he is the diez (10^th) guest at the birthday party. Did Grandma Beetle’s trick work or will Death still insist that she join him after the party?

Evaluation: I can see why this won an illustrator award. The pictures are so warm and colorful. Even the depiction of death, although a haunting skeleton, is almost comical and made me laugh. The Hispanic and Mexican culture is so rich in color that the colors literally popped off the page so this story was just as much a visual experience as it was literary. I can see how this would be a fun book to read out loud at a story time or with a group of young children.

Annotation: What would you do if Death came knocking at your door? It is as easy as counting to ten.

Significance of Book: This book is significant because it not only highlights another language, but also another culture and its traditions. The format is fun and playful, but still teaches a lot about another culture.

Genre/subject: fiction, folklore, culture, counting

Awards:

National:

· ALA Notable Children's Books: 2004

· Americas Book Award: 2003

· Pura Belpre Illustrator Award: 2004

· Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award: 2003

State:

· Nevada: Young Readers' Award Nominees: 2006

Why I selected the book: I selected this book because the youth librarian in my library system recommended it and because it was one of the few Pura Belpre award winners in the collection.

Price: $15.99

Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal

Nelson, Vaunda Micheaux, Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal, Carolrhoda Books, 2008, 41 pgs.

Summary: The story of U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves is historical. Bass Reeves was a slave in Oklahoma. When he couldn’t take it anymore he ran away to Indian Territory and once slavery was outlawed, he was chosen to be a U.S. Marshal in Indian Territory. Bass Reeves could not read, as most slaves could not at this time, so he had to memorize all the details of the outlaws he tracked down from what was read to him. Bass Reeves also used unique was to catch his fugitives such as disquises, tricks, and yes sometimes force. Not everybody appreciated Bass Reeves as most whites still disliked African Americans, but he was highly respected. Bass Reeves even had to arrest his own son for killing another person. Bass Reeves hung up his U.S. Marshal’s hat when Oklahoma became a state, but still worked as a law man. In total Bass Reeves captured over 3000 fugitives.

Evaluation: This was really a very remarkable story and I really enjoyed reading it. The illustrations added that little extra to the story to make it come to life. I can’t believe I had no idea about this historical person and I wish more information was available. I felt it was a very unique way to look at a very historical part of our national story.

Annotation: U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves is hunting you, but you don’t know how he will find you, only that he will.

Significance of Book: This book highlights a very important part of history as well as an U.S. Marshal’s life that made history himself as an African American lawman.

Genre/subject: Biography, history

Awards:

National:

• ALA Notable Children's Books: 2010
• Capitol Choices: 2010
• Coretta Scott King Author Award: 2010
• Golden Kite Honors: 2010
• Kirkus Best Children's Books: 2009
• Notable Books for a Global Society: 2010

State:

• Indiana: Young Hoosier Award Nominees: 2012
• Louisiana: Young Readers' Choice Award Nominees: 2012
• Oklahoma: Sequoyah Award Nominees: 2012
• Rhode Island: Children's Book Award Nominees: 2012
• South Carolina: Children's Book Award Nominees: 2012

Why I selected the book: I was recommended to read this book by the youth librarian at my library. She felt it was worthy of its awards and I wanted to read a Coretta Scott King winner.

Price: $26.80